Expansive and deep,
beautiful but volatile,
ample force to turn
vessels to splinters.

Teeming with life,
ceaselessly churning,
an indefatigable
dynamo.

Kissed by the sun,
caressed by the winds,
extolled by poets
and sailors alike.

Sustainer of life
as we know it on Earth,
yet with all its
grandeur and might…

still fragile.

What could be big enough to threaten and endanger our oceans (and thus our planet)?

Microplastics.

Microplastics particles, which are smaller than five millimeters in size, likely pose a massive environmental and human health risk when they enter our natural waterways.

Toxins including DDT, BPA and pesticides adhere to the particles, and because they can resemble plankton, they’re often ingested by small aquatic life. The toxins biomagnify as they move up the food chain, accumulating in birds, fish, marine mammals and potentially humans.

Thank you for linking this beautifully composed photo essay with the UNLESS… Earth-friendly Chroniclers challenge for World Oceans Day.
You selected some of my favorite spots along the Oregon Coast!
~Jane

You’re welcome! I took the beaches and ocean for granted when I lived in Oceanside (OR). I’m still within driving distance, though, and much more appreciative when I get the chance to spend time there.